Driving-gear.



J. M. SAILER. DRIVING GEAR. APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 2, 1909.

952,1 4aB Patented Mar. 15,1910.

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ANDREW B, GRAHAM c0., PHOTO-LITNDGRAFNERS. WASHINGTON, A O- J. M. SAILER. DRIVING GEAR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1909.

952, 1&3 Patented Mar. 15, M10.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. .a ANDREW a GRAHAM can Pnomumoumrnzks. WA

J. M. SAILER. DRIVING GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 2, 1909.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

841m, Mo;

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JOHN M. SAILER, or JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN.

DRIVING-GEAR.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. SAILER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Janesville, county of Rock, State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving-Gear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in driving gears.

My improved driving gear is particularly adapted for use in the driving of motor vehicles, although it is desirable for use in various other relations.

The main objects of my invention are: First, to provide an improved driving gear in which the speed can be varied to any degree up to the maximum. Second, to provide an improved driving gear which may be readily reversed. Third, to provide an improved driving gear in which the driven shafts, as the axles of a motor vehicle, can be driven in opposite directions.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a detail plan of a structure embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, looking from the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken on a line corresponding to line 3-8 of Figs. 1 and 2, parts being broken away to show the details thereof. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, showing one of the clutch drums and clutch band actuating means. Fig. 5 is a detail section, take-n on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section, taken 011 a line corresponding to line 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail section, taken on a line corresponding to line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows atthe ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the frame 1 is provided with bearings 2 and 3 for the driv- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 2, 1909.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 470,475.

ing shaft 4. The source of power of this driving shaft is not here illustrated. The driven shafts 5 are arranged in suitable bearings, as 6, in the frame, their inner ends being supported by a sleeve-like coupling member 7. These driven shafts 5 may be the axis of a motor vehicle, or may transmit the power, as described. On the driving shaft 4 is a driving wheel 8, which is provided with a hole 9 adapted to receive the driving shaft, the hole 9 being preferably arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the wheel. The wheel is secured to the shaft to revolve therewith by means of the pin 10. By this connection, the wheel may be tilted to various positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the structure illustrated being adapted to be adjusted to and from a position at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the object of which will definitely appear as the description proceeds. The hole 9, being arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the wheel, the diagonally opposite edges thereof serve as stops for the wheel when the same is at right angles to the shaft, as illustrated in the drawings. The wheel is preferably made up of sections 1111 having flanges 12 thereon adapted to receive the ring-like bearing member 13, the member 13 being secured and the sections of the wheel connected together by means of the bolts 14. On this driving wheel is a member 15 having an internal annular groove adapted to receive the bearing member 18 of the driving wheel, the groove being preferably formed by providing the member 15 with ring-like flange plates 16 which are secured in position by the bolts 17. This member 15 is secured against rotation as by means of the chains 18 which are connected at one end to the frame and at the other end to the ears 19 on the member 15. By this arrangement, as the driving wheel revolves in the member 15 a reciprocatory motion is imparted thereto, the length of the stroke being varied according to the angular adjustment of the driving wheel relative to the driving shaft. This adjustment of the driving wheel is effected in the structure illustrated by splining the collar 20, to the driving shaft and connect ing this collar by means of the link 21 to the wheel. This collar is grooved to be engaged by the shifting lever 22, which is pivoted at 23, suitable means being provided for securing the lever in its adjusted posi tion, the means not being here illustrated, as they will be readily understood.

On the driven shafts 5, I arrange a plurality of clutch wheels or drums 2a, the drums being preferably arranged in pairs, as illustrated. These drums are provided with grooves on their peripheries to receive the clutch bands 25. To one end of each clutch band I connect a lever 26 by means of a suitable pivot, as 27. This lever is connected to the other end of the clutch band, as by means of the pivoted link 28, which is mounted on the pivot 25). (See Fig. 5). This link may be adjusted to either side of the pivot for the clutch actuating lever, which causes the clutch to act, either on its forward stroke, or on its rearward stroke, according to the adjustment of the link, so that I thus secure a reverse action. A suitable stop block 30 is provided for each lever to insure the releasing of the clutch. When the link 28 is in its central position the lever engages the stop on both its forward and rearward movement. These clutch-actuating levers are oppositely arranged for the pairs of drums and are connected by the yoke-like links 31 to the driving wheel member 15, the connection being preferably a universal joint. In the struc ture illustrated, socket-members are secured to the links and the ball members 33 to the member 15. Other forms of universal joint could, however, be used in this relation.

The links 28 are provided with shifting rods 34-, the rods of each pair being preferably actuated through a rock shaft This rock shaft has arms 36 to whichthe links 34 are connected and is provided with a hand piece, as 37. In the accompanying drawing, I show this actuating means for illustrative purposes only and without an attempt to show the relative relation of the parts in practice. As the links 31 are actuated at the same length of stroke, it will be obvious that the two driven shafts are driven at the same speeds, either forward or backward, and, as the clutches may be independently adjusted, one can be arranged to drive the clutch drums in one direction, while the others are driven in a reverse direction. This is of especial advantage in automobile drives, as it effects the turning of the ve hicle. This is of particular advantage in heavy trucks and the like, where it is desired to make very short turns and the full power is required or desirable for the propelling of the vehicle.

It will be obvious that my in'iproved driving gear is capable of adjustment to any speed up to its maXimum,--that is, the speeds can be gradually varied. By bringing the driving gear to a position at right angles to the driving shaft, the gear is thrown out of operation. This gradual changing of the speed is also of very great advantage, as it enables the gradual starting of the vehicle and the speed is under the perfect control of the operator.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in detail in a simple form or embodiment Without attempting to illustrate or describe the various modifications of which the same is capable, as various modifi cations will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates; and, while I make certain more or less specific claims to this embodiment illustrated. I also desire to be understood as claiming the invention broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a pair of driven shafts; clutch drums arranged in pairs on said driven shafts; clutch bands therefor; a. clutch actuating ley er pivoted on each of said clutch bands at one end thereof; connecting links for the other ends of said clutch bands to said levers; said connecting links being pivoted to said bands and adapted to be shifted to either side of the pivots of said levers to said clutch bands, the clutch actuating levers of each pair of drums being oppositely arranged; stops for said levers on the ends of said clutch bands on which said links are mounted; and means for re ciprocating said clutch actuating levers.

2. The combination of a pair of driven shafts; clutch drums arranged in pairs on said driven shafts; clutch bands therefor; a clutch actuating lever pivoted on each of said clutch bands at one end thereof; connecting links for the other ends of said clutch bands to said levers, said connecting links being pivoted to said bands and adapted to be shifted to either side of the pivots of said levers to said clutch bands, the clutch actuating levers of each pair of drums being oppositely arranged; and means for reciprocating said clutch actuating levers.

3. The combination of a pair of clutch drums; clutch bands therefor; a clutch actuating lever pivoted on each of said clutch bands at one end thereof; connecting links for the other ends of said clutch bands to said levers, said connecting links being pivoted to said bands and adapted to be shifted to either side of the pivots of said levers to said clutch bands; stops for said levers on the ends of said clutch bands on which said links are mounted; and means for recipro- :ating said clutch actuating levers.

at. The combination of a pair of clutch drums; clutch bands therefor; a clutch actuating lever pivoted on each of said clutch bands at one end thereof; connecting links for the other ends of said clutch bands to said levers, said connecting links being pivoted to said bands and adapted to be shifted to either side of the pivots of said levers to said clutch bands; and means for reciprocating said clutch actuating levers.

5. The combination of a clutch drum, a clutch band therefor; a clutch actuating lever mounted on said clutch band at one end thereof; a connecting link for the other end of said clutch band to said lever, said connecting link being pivoted to said band and adapted to be shifted to either side of the pivot of said lever to said clutch band; a stop for said lever on the end of said band by which said link is carried; and means for reciprocating said clutch actuating lever.

G. The combination of a clutch drum, a clutch band therefor; a clutch actuating lever mounted on said clutch band at one end thereof; a connecting link for the other end of said clutch band to said lever, said connecting link being pivoted to said band and adapted to be shifted to either side of the pivot of said lever to said clutch band, and means for reciprocating said clutch actuating lever.

7. The combination of a pair of clutch drums; clutch bands therefor; a clutch actuating lever pivoted on each of said clutch bands at one end thereof; connecting links for the other ends of said clutch bands to said levers, said connecting links being pivoted to said bands and adapted to be shifted to either side of the pivots of said levers to said clutch bands, said clutch actuating levers being oppositely arranged; means for simultaneously shifting the said links; and means for reciprocating said clutch actuating levers.

8. The combination of a pair of clutch drums; clutch bands therefor; a clutch actuating lever pivoted on each of said bands at one end thereof; connecting links for the other ends of said clutch bands to said levers, said clutch actuating levers being oppositely arranged on the drums; and connections for simultaneously reciprocating said clutch actuating levers arranged between said drums.

9. The combination of a pair of driven shafts; a clutch drum on each of said shafts; clutch bands therefor; a clutch actuating lever pivoted on each of said clutch bands at one end thereof; connecting links for the other end of said clutch bands to said levers, said connecting links being pivoted to said band and adapted to be shifted to either side of the pivots of said levers; means for shifting said links; and means for reciprocating said levers whereby said shafts may be driven in the same or opposite directions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. SAILER. [n s] \Vitnesses JonN CUNNINGHAM, Com H. OBRIEN. 

